DE PERE - St. Norbert College turned in a strong defensive performance while keeping possession for nearly two-thirds of the game with a solid 27-7 win over Concordia University Chicago in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference game at Schneider Stadium.
The Green Knights (6-4, 6-2 NACC) held the Cougars (5-4, 3-4) to 220 yards of total offense while keeping possession of the football for a whopping 38 minutes 32 seconds. The win also ensures St. Norbert of an anticipated bowl game invitation, to be played in either Waukesha or Neenah on November 21.
St. Norbert scored on the first play of its second possession, when
Jacob McVane ripped off a 79-yard touchdown run to put the Green Knights ahead 7-0, the only points of the first quarter.
The Green Knights took over at midfield with 8:56 left in the second quarter when
Jim Feeney stayed home on a play-action pass and made an acrobatic interception to prevent a potential Concordia touchdown. St. Norbert then milked 7 minutes off the clock to advance 50 yards on 13 plays, scoring on a
Fernando Rodriguez 3-yard run with 1:56 left before halftime. Concordia would answer with its only points of the day, scoring with two seconds left before halftime on a 2-yard touchdown pass Colton Bosch to Kevon Larson to make it 14-7 at halftime.
Concordia tried to double up to open the second half but was stymied when
Cory Burton's intercepted a Bosch pass in St. Norbert territory. The Green Knights moved 46 yards in 10 plays to make it a two-possession game on a 33-yard field goal by
Tyler Juergensen with 5:47 left in the third quarter. Three plays later,
Mason Trimberger (pictured) intercepted Bosch in the middle of the field and raced 37 yards unmolested for a touchdown with 4:56 left and a 24-7 lead. The Cougars advanced to the St. Norbert 13 on their next possession, but was stopped on downs late in the third quarter.
St. Norbert closed out the scoring on a 38-yard field goal from Juergensen with 5:42 remaining in the game.
St. Norbert held a 306-220 advantage in total offense, with the Green Knights gaining 235 yards on the ground. McVane rushed 22 times for 160 yards and one touchdown. Rodriguez completed 7 of 9 passes for 71 yards and added 34 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Nadir Simmons had 38 yards rushing on 12 carries.
Adam Westberg caught two passes for 23 yards, while McVane had two catches for 22 yards.
Bosch completed 18 of 37 passes for 196 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions to lead Concordia, which was held to 14 rushing yards on just 12 carries.
Tommy McCauley had a team-high five tackles, with Trimberger continued his banner freshman season with four tackles, one interception and four passes defensed. Feeney finished with two interceptions and three tackles, while
Eamonn Murphy,
Alex Carter and
Aiden Gomez all had three tackles apiece.
